Rolling Meadows limits sick time for new hires

New, nonunion city employees will be allowed a maximum of 80 hours of sick leave under a measure the Rolling Meadows council approved Tuesday night.

The vote means if a new employee gets sick, he or she could get a maximum of up to 80 hours of pay, then would have to take two weeks without pay before being eligible for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund short-term disability.

Alderman Barb Lusk voted against the ordinance after her request to amend it to allow for 160 hours of sick time was rejected.

But Alderman Glenn Adams said, “I don’t think it is fair for middle-class Americans to pay for benefits for government workers that they’re not receiving themselves. I think where we stood was 80 hours of carry-over to get people through the first 30 days and I think that is where I would go as far as in support of it.”

Acting City Manager Barry Krumstok said three municipalities he surveyed by phone had a “no max, no payout at retirement policy,” meaning their employees accumulate unlimited sick time, but when they retire there is no payout.

Krumstok pointed out that 30 days of leave is not considered 80 hours; for 30 days of leave the amount would have to be increased to 160 hours.

Mayor Kenneth Nelson voiced his concern that the council is not giving employees enough time before they can go on short-term disability to collect just 60 percent of their pay.

The agreement means a nonunion employee hired after Jan. 25, 2011, will accrue four hours of sick leave per month, up to a maximum of 80 hours.

“One thing that we have found is that one town copies another town,” Alderman John D’Astice said. “We are leading the way. We are not going to be the followers anymore. We are setting new precedents, and other communities will follow our lead.”